I've spent the afternoon trying to figure out what I should do about my vitamin D intake.

The doctor hasn't gotten back to me after telling me to take 2,000 iu per day (I'm already taking double that and still got a low level.)

I'm finding lots of information about "recomended doses" which tells me one of three things: I should take 400 iu per day, 2,000 iu per day, or 5,000 iu per day. Nowhere is there any advice about what to do if 5,000 iu per day isn't enough, other than "talk to your doctor" but she hasn't called me back.

Basically, I want to know if I should be taking a higher oral dose, or if I need to do something else to help me absorb it better. Are my vitamin D levels low because I simply have a very high need for it and I haven't been taking enough, or is it because something is keeping me from absorbing what's in those pills? And if that's the case, will a higher dose help anyway, or is there something else I should be doing?

Ruthiegirl, did you see the link Henriette posted a few posts earlier (thanks Henriette). It answered all my questions concerning Vitamin D. It talks about some of the foods high in Vitamin D, and also what you can do to increase absorption.

Basically, I want to know if I should be taking a higher oral dose, or if I need to do something else to help me absorb it better. Are my vitamin D levels low because I simply have a very high need for it and I haven't been taking enough, or is it because something is keeping me from absorbing what's in those pills? And if that's the case, will a higher dose help anyway, or is there something else I should be doing?

As far as I know 400 I.U. is the recomended daily dose, 2000 I.U is the conventional maximum daily dose and anything higher is supposed to be taken only with a Dr.'s recomendation and supervision.

Standards are a little askew here both in terms of what is a reasonable dosage as well as what is an adequate blood level of the Vitamin. I think this is because it has suddenly been discovered that Vitamin D is really important but no one really seems to know all that much about it.

Since Vitamin D works with Vitamin K it would seem like a good idea to make sure you are getting lot of it as well.

The woman from the dr's office called back at 8:00 PM. I hadn't expected a call so late- I'd already given up on them for the day.

She told me to take 10,000 iu per day, and then get my vitamin D levels re-tested in 3 months.

I still don't know which vitamin D test was done, or what my actual numbers were. I requested a copy of all my labwork when I spoke to her the first time; I'll request it all again if I don't receive it in a few days.

Vitamin K does not work on the same coagulation pathways that make the blood of type A individuals more viscous. Vitamin K interferes with prothrombin (factor II) and factors VII, IX, X. Type A's have more viscosity due to increases in von Willebrand Factor and Factor VIII. Only vWF plays a role in the endothelial issues that give them more proneness to arterial problems.

A whole system is a living system is a learning system.’ -Stewart Brand

Vitamin K does not work on the same coagulation pathways that make the blood of type A individuals more viscous. Vitamin K interferes with prothrombin (factor II) and factors VII, IX, X. Type A's have more viscosity due to increases in von Willebrand Factor and Factor VIII. Only vWF plays a role in the endothelial issues that give them more proneness to arterial problems.

I'll take that as a NO (it does not thicken your blood).

(with these very technical (can you say that for medical lingo?) terms, I'm not always sure I understand everything correctly. That happens if English is not your mother tongue.)

I also use a UVB light (small thing that attaches to a tripod for an equivalent of about 20 minutes of sun exposure around 3x a week when the sun hibernates. I rotate it to different parts of my body and wear a ski mask and gloves, protective sunglasses. I look outrageous doing it, but feel absolutely fantastic for it. I also make sure to get some antioxidents after, veg, green tea, etc. I also heard watermelon (and some other tropicals?) is protective especially for sun exposure. So I will enjoy that while I can get it.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:13,14

Basically, I want to know if I should be taking a higher oral dose, or if I need to do something else to help me absorb it better. Are my vitamin D levels low because I simply have a very high need for it and I haven't been taking enough, or is it because something is keeping me from absorbing what's in those pills? And if that's the case, will a higher dose help anyway, or is there something else I should be doing?

Definitely take D3. There may even be some water soluble forms (some with absorption problems have trouble absorbing fats). The NAP formulation looks great. I used to take a D3 that was derived from lanolin, and it worked well for me. When I had a deficiency (just in stored form, but with symptoms) I took the equivalent of about 8000 IU per day, but in a 50,000 IU weekly dose. I took that for about two years, with little change in levels, then smartened up and switched from the prescription D2 to D3 and my levels got fine fast.

Vitamin K does not work on the same coagulation pathways that make the blood of type A individuals more viscous. Vitamin K interferes with prothrombin (factor II) and factors VII, IX, X. Type A's have more viscosity due to increases in von Willebrand Factor and Factor VIII. Only vWF plays a role in the endothelial issues that give them more proneness to arterial problems.

Well, I had been taking multi vitamins that had vitamin K in them and I didn't develop any DVT during that time..except I did have trouble giving blood and they told me it was too thick. ...Was I just dehydrated? hmm.

I asked the lady from the doctor's office to mail me a copy of all my lab tests, but I haven't yet received them. I don't know what my vitamin D level is, or even which vitamin D test was run. All I know is "my Vitamin D levels were low" and everything else was "normal," except for the urine test that had "high protein" but was re-run and that test was "normal."

It's very frustrating for me, not having this information at my fingertips. I think next time I'll have the bloodwork done before my appointment, so we can discuss the results at my checkup, and I can walk out of there with a photocopy of all labwork.

I tried Natures Pride. I broke out in in a rash from it. We can assume that Trader Joe's D is bad. I don't understand why you couldn't go on prescription D. It would have been a lot cheaper for you. Like a dollar co pay right?

Isn't the prescription stuff all D2? Not to mention the fact that most prescription drugs contain random weird ingredients, such as corn starch, artificial colors, etc. And why can we assume that the Trader Joe's stuff is bad?

Isn't it possible that I simply need more than 5,000 iu of D per day to maintain healthy levels? Lots of things I've read online suggest that amount for "healthy individuals" and I have Fibromyalgia- a condition that's often associated with low vitamin D levels.

Hmm. Let me ask a pharmacist. We have them downstairs. I'll get back to you on that. But it raised my levels a bit..not a ton but a bit so that proves it is better than Trader Joes D . My level was 26.. and I took 1 cap of 50,000 ius of D a week. after about 10 weeks my levels were up to 31.

31 is still low, isn't it? Mine were in the high 30s and my endo told me to take 10,000 IUs while I was sick and then 5000 IUs after that. I asked the pharmacist at the compounding pharmacy that I go to recommend a brand - don't remember the name offhand - hadn't seen it before. I was taking the Whole Foods brand 1000s but it has soy oil in it and on 2000 IUs a day plus what's in my Cal Mag Zinc, I wasn't getting enough. I also wasn't taking it with food which I'm now doing.

31 is still low, isn't it? Mine were in the high 30s and my endo told me to take 10,000 IUs while I was sick and then 5000 IUs after that. I asked the pharmacist at the compounding pharmacy that I go to recommend a brand - don't remember the name offhand - hadn't seen it before. I was taking the Whole Foods brand 1000s but it has soy oil in it and on 2000 IUs a day plus what's in my Cal Mag Zinc, I wasn't getting enough. I also wasn't taking it with food which I'm now doing.

31 is too low in my opinion. You have to keep getting tested and get your level up high enough to be protective. I don't want to tell you what that number should be....but the information out there is pretty vague unless you follow the guidelines of the Vitamin D council which is what I'm doing.And my osteopath agrees.

Then there's a bunch of stuff at the bottom saying that < 20 is a deficiency, 20-30 is an insuficiency, and optimal levels are = or > 30. I'm glad my doctor is knowledgable enough to realize that 34 is low, in spite of the information the lab gave with the results.

On another thread, I want to list all my lab results, especially if I'm near the edge of the range on any of them. I don't 100% trust that "within normal range" means "optimal health" on any of these tests.

Then there's a bunch of stuff at the bottom saying that < 20 is a deficiency, 20-30 is an insuficiency, and optimal levels are = or > 30. I'm glad my doctor is knowledgable enough to realize that 34 is low, in spite of the information the lab gave with the results.

On another thread, I want to list all my lab results, especially if I'm near the edge of the range on any of them. I don't 100% trust that "within normal range" means "optimal health" on any of these tests.

What was the amount of D you were taking prior to your blood test?

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